4 reasons why you must apply for the ‘Code for the Next Billion’ program

A chance to get mentored by the best experts from the IT industry, access to a global platform that helps startups grow and scale, an opportunity to gain visibility and showcase your products, and a chance to get funded and incubated. As an entrepreneur, if you find these prospects exciting and compelling, then we’ve got more reasons why you should apply for the ‘Code for the Next Billion’ program.

A joint venture by Facebook and NASSCOM 10,000 Startups, Code for the Next Billion was launched in 2016 with an aim to discover and empower social entrepreneurs who are building mobile applications for new-to-the-internet/bottom-of-the-pyramid users. Facebook’s resolve to give people the power of accessibility and eliminate social, economic barriers for the unconnected, has made way for the second edition of this program. As a strategic partner, Invest India will lead an extensive outreach campaign across the Startup India Hub to ensure that the initiative reaches the farthest corners of the country.

The six-month immersive program is looking for early-stage but product-ready startups with a mobile application. As part of the program, participants will learn from top-notch technology and business mentors, participate in workshops and webinars to receive hands-on training, and get access to investors who can help validate and scale the selected startups. The focus areas for the program include:

Healthcare and well-being

Education / skill development and employment

Gender equality and diversity - inclusion

Financial literacy and economic empowerment

Access to public utilities and benefits

The program is also supported by funding partners Unitus Seed Fund, Ankur Capital and Indian Angel Network; incubation partner Social Alpha and design mentorship partner Design4India.

Here are four more reasons why you cannot afford to miss this amazing opportunity:

An opportunity to interact with the who’s-who of the industry

One of the most important things that a budding startup requires is the right guidance. Code for the Next Billion offers participants a chance to interact with experts and other industry stalwarts. The selected startups will be mentored on various topics such as product design and development, building for emerging markets, business planning and growth hacking, among others.

Access to FbStart - Facebook’s global startup platform

FbStart is a global initiative from Facebook which helps startups grow and build their businesses. The program consists of two tracks for startups at different stages – Bootstrap & Accelerate. The selected Code for the Next Billion finalists will get a chance to be a part of the FbStart program, giving them an added boost in scaling their company.

A chance to connect with investors

The platform gives participants an opportunity to refine their pitching skills with a workshop on investment pitching. Towards the end of the program, participants will also get to be a part of an exclusive closed door pitching session which will give them an opportunity to raise funds and get incubated.

All the media exposure you can ever ask for

Every startup is looking for recognition at a global level. Some of the biggest media houses in the country will be covering the Code for the Next Billion program, giving you a chance to make some headlines. Not only will this help in getting the word out about your company, but you could acquire more customers as well. What more can you ask for?

Now that you know what’s in store - access to top-notch business and technology mentors; an opportunity to be a part of Facebook's global startup program FbStart and the NASSCOM 10,000 Startups Virtual/Warehouse Program, and access to top social impact investors and incubators in India - don’t miss the chance to be a part of this incredible initiative.

If you are an early-stage startup building a mobile first solution that has the potential to transform the lives of the marginalized sections of society, you know what you have to do.

Social Alpha’s incubation services - Foundation for Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (FISE), is an initiative of the Tata Trusts to promote socially relevant innovations and entrepreneurship with a mission to create large scale sustainable social impact. FISE is a Technology Business Incubator, approved by the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, that nurtures social sector startups through their lab to market journey. Social Alpha’s unique three-tier ecosystem architecture is focused on catalysing innovation, enterprise incubation and growth hacking, to address the challenges of scale and sustainability.

About Unitus Seed Fund

Unitus Seed Fund is the leading impact venture fund investing in businesses innovating for the masses in India. Unitus invests in sectors including healthcare, education and financial technology. Unitus Seed Fund is backed by leading individual, family office, and foundation investors in the USA and India. Unitus Seed Fund is part of the Unitus Group, a premier financial services group operating in India and other emerging markets since 2000. Unitus Seed Fund is based in Bangalore and is a member of theCapria Network. More at: http://usf.vc

About Ankur Capital

Ankur Capital is an early stage venture capital fund that invests in opportunities created by rising aspirations and digital access for the next billion Indians. We invest in technologies and product innovations in agriculture, healthcare, education and other areas with the potential to create large-scale impact. We bring more than capital; our in-house team partners with portfolio companies to accelerate their growth. We are invested in nine companies across these sectors. Many of our portfolio companies have gone ahead to raise subsequent rounds of capital.

About Indian Angel Network

Indian Angel Network is India's ﬁrst and world's Largest business angel network with over 460 members across the world, comprising the who's who of successful entrepreneurs and dynamic CEOS. With investors from 11 countries, IAN’s presence spans 7 locations, which includes cities in India and UK. The network is sector agnostic and has funded startups across 17 sectors in India and 6 other countries growing global footprint companies. Indian Angel Network has been a pioneer in the seed and early stage investing, It has now launched a 450 Crores VCfund making it now, the single largest platform for seed & early stage, where entrepreneurs can raise from as 25 lakhs to 50 crores (with co investors). Some of our investee companies doing pathbreaking work in the social impact sector include like Saahas, Carbon Masters, GramVaani, GoCoog, Consure, Arcatron , Ecosense, farMart, Inthreeaccess, PEEBudy etc